Berry College Top Questions

When I entered college I had all these ideas of what I wanted to do with my life, but I had never explored how I was going to achieve those goals. I pressured myself to do the best that I could to live up to my mother?s expectations. By the time my first year ended, I did not have much of a social life or many friends. Looking back on my experience, I wish I could tell my senior self not to forsake relationships for academic success, there is a happy medium. Once I started developing friendship and increasing my social life, I found that success in school increased and that I became less stressed. I only wish I had the friendship skills then as I have developed now. For the first time in my college experience, I am truly happy and successful, and it is my junior year. Now that I have figured out a good balance between my social and academic life, I am gaining valuable friendships and relationships with people who are in my field of study, and who want to help me succeed in my future.

If i could go back to visit myself in high school, I would slap myself in the face and I would tell myself to focus more. In high school i procrastinated on everything so I would tell myself to find better ways of finishing projects on time. I would also tell myself to apply to more colleges and scholarships so that I wouldn't have to struggle with finding money now.

Ever since I could remember I was looking forward to attending college. As the saying goes, " it is the best four years of your life. " Little did I know as a high school senior preparing for college the amount of opportuinties and chances to experiance new things that I would have. If I were to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to prepare to become an adult. No longer will there be the friends that I have know since elementary school that I was dependent on. No longer will I have to follow a schedule that someone else has created, eating at a set time and place, etc. I would tell myself to prepare to grow as a person and learn more about the world. My transition into college was not just a change in location, but a change in myself to become a better person.

I would give myself the advice to save all my money. Academics should always be first, but money should be second. Though there are meal plans at school, it helps to have money for books (which are ridiculously expensive), emergencies such as car troubles and doctors visits. Also, if you have your own money, you can help your parents out. If your family is financially not doing well, it is a blessing to help out any way you can. If you start college out with money, you will less likely be in debt when you graduate. Saving money is the best tip, and the second best is to manage money wisely. Don't spend it on things you don't need- put it in a savings account called COLLEGE and don't touch it!

I would tell myself to not expect the environment to change much from high school if I were to still go to Berry. It is still very much a controlled environment. I should look around at more schools and apply to more than just Berry. I wouldn't change where I ended up, but I think I should just know more about other schools. People at Berry are very friendly and I should be prepared for lots of enthusiasm. I will need lots of patience with students and the administration. Also, the food is horrible.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior and knowing what I know now about college I would tell myself to start learning how to use my time wisely and manage it to the best of my ability. Time is of essences and the work to be done requires a lot of it whether or not I want to do it, so do it now. I would tell myself to learn how to study and make wise choices. Studying is key to doing well in college; if you have studied then study again you will need the extra help. Making wise choices are important, putting off work for some fun now will greatly hurt you later. I would talk about how I should not rush myself out the house because the freedom I will get is dangerous if it is not properly used. Even though I can make my own choices and live my own life in college, I will be missing the family house rules because consequences there are less harsh. Every part of the academic side of school is important but these are of most importance for me to grasp.

I would advice myself to start a part-time job and save as much money as possible. In addition, I would work on organization skills, time management, and meeting deadlines. In addition, I would begin working on scholarship applications as soon as possible. The most important advice I could give myself in high school would be that although my education will be worth the cost, I should do all I can to reduce that price.

Many assume that high school aged kids can grow and learn how to do things in college or when they get out on their own. I really wish I had had a guidance counselor or mentor who would have explained how things in the real world work. For example, I would have spent much more time looking at financial aid or doing a joint enrollment program to help reduce the stressful amount of hours I need to take to graduate on time. I wish I had known how to budget properly and time manage because there are stressful times in college when unavoidable situations occur and time management would have saved a lot of lost sleep. Instead of stressing about SAT scores and the future, I should have chosen to relish in the high school environment of diversity and friendships. With a background of public school, I should have paid more attention to the variety or students that surrounded me and how I could have better communicated with them to empathize with who they are and where they come from, both their cultural and family backgrounds.

Knowing what I know now, I would go back to my senior year and tell myself knowledge that would make me be less stressed and allow me to enjoy my freshman year. I would have applied for more local/state/national scholarships and I would have kept better track of how much financial aid I would need to cover my tuition for both the fall and spring semester. I would have made myself kick my habit of procrastinating, which has been detrimental to achieving my academic goals. I also would have figured out my major and minor at the beginning of my fall semester, so I could have had a decisive road to travel from the start. I would have told myself to put myself in the spotlight more often and get comfortable talking around people I don't know. If I had done half of those things: I would have a higher GPA, I wouldn't be worried about paying off the $4,185.00 that I still owe, I would be less stressed, and I would able to spend my time doing things that I enjoy.

I would tell myself to start researching different colleges as soon as possible because I was not very open at that point. I would also tell myself to focus on narrowing the colleges down by selecting only the ones with good education programs since that is what I was looking for. I would also remind myself not to turn away a college just because I thought it was too expensive. Another thing I would have told myself was to look into as many scholarships as I could find. I have more options than the usual senior since I am Hispanic and American Indian, and I should take advantage of the opportunities available to me. I would also tell myself to think everything through with great importance because it will affect the rest of my life.

Talking to myself in the past just before I made the transition from high school to college, I would say, though you are nervous and excited all at once, don't be scared. The first week will be rough. You will miss home. You will miss how easy things were then. Classes will seem so much larger and different and your schedule and new life will seem unconquerable. But through all this, you will have fun. You will learn new things. You will learn to be more independent and manage yourself and become a better person for it. You will make new friends who share so much more with you, who are going through the same thing as you. You will not be alone in this. It will change your life for the better. So relax.

Most of the suggestions I would have made to my high school senior self would have geared around the problem that almost every college student faces at some point; lack of funds. I would emphisize the importance of saving money, and applying to a lot of scholarships. I would tell myself to practice budgeting, and to be realistic about what I could and couldn't afford. I have done okay in college so far (No major debt or anything) but I just wish my high school self had saved a little more money for me. The other thing I would emphisize to myself is the importance of practicing good study habits. In high school it was easy to wait until the last minute to do something, because there would always be time to do it. In college, the last minute is always filled with something, and I wish I had practiced getting things done early rather waiting until the week before they are due. Most of all, I would tell myself to not stress out. College has taught me that learning is really fun! I should just do my best, learn lots, and enjoy the process.

You do not need to try to become a brand-new person merely because you will be entering a brand-new environment. You don't need to reformulate your personality, worldview, manners, words, or actions because you aren't in high school anymore. You are still the same person that you were as a successful high school senior; you don't need to throw all that away! You will be exposed to fresh ideas and outlooks, and you should indeed be open-minded to all of them. That's all a part of the liberal education, to liberate your mind and force you to see new ideas and your own within that "marketplace of ideas" John Stuart Mill describes. Education does liberate the mind from the cave of ignorance, and that state of ignorance is far from bliss. But with all this liberating, a wonderful but hard experience, you can still remain true to yourself as you are already. There's no need to start all over, even if you are taking a new, hard, critical examining of your beliefs. They warrant such analyization, but that doesn't mean you should discard them all once you enter the college gate.

I would tell myself to never wait until the last minutes to complete an assignment or study for a test. I would advise myself to expect to do worse in college than in highschool; college is a whole different playing field. However, one bad grade should not discourage me from trying to do better the next time around. Even though college will be stressful at times, many times in fact, I shouldn't let it weigh too hard on me and to remember to relax every once and a while. I shouldn't forget that college is about having a good time as well as getting good grades and that learning should be done outside of the classroom and not just from what the professor teaches. I should never be afraid to ask for help; the key to doing well is understanding what you're learning. I should be confident in myself and be willing to step outside of my box to embrace new experiences and friendships.

Have fun and enjoy it. Nothing lasts forever and these four years will be the shortest of your life no matter how hard you try to stretch them out. Take in everything, try as hard as you can, and most importantly, be yourself. You go to college to discover who you are away from parents and, for the most part, adults, so learn to be an adult and become the person you are meant to be. College is not an easy four years, you have to work hard and put your mind to it. If you try hard enough and study well enough, you can accomplish anything. Make friends who will help you, not harm you, through your studies. These are the friends you will have for the rest of your life and become your family away from home. Love them and cherish them, and they will do the same. Most importantly, work hard to accomplish your goals. Go in to class knowing you will do well, and you will succeed. Teachers do not fail students, students fail themselves by not working hard enough. Do your best and you will go far.

College is fantastic! Don't be nervous. The work load is more challenging, but very doable. Living on your own is not as scary as it seems, it's actually a lot of fun. The friends you make here are the best you have ever had.

Never give up on my self when I make one bad grade. There will always be ups and downs of college life and that is what makes a person stronger by accomplishing their goals, along with achieving the once impossible task that I was faced with during my college career. There will always be a challenge to overcome and if I keep trusting and believing in myself and my faith in God, then I will surely succeed in all that I do. One of the biggest hurdles to overcome are the tribulation and trials that one will be faced with to test your ability to overcome the hardships. Set goals that are small to start out with and gradually increase the goal to reach for the stars.

The first step in finding the best college for you is looking for somewhere that you "fit." When I visited Berry College, I fell in love with the land. There is something almost magically beautiful about Berry's campus. I'm not sure if that happens for everyone, but I feel like finding the right college is like finding the perfect pair of blue jeans - you pick the one that instantly fits. Of course, finances are definitely an issue and must be addressed. However, with careful planning and a good high school GPA, you can usually find the help you need. To make the most of the college experience, you have to realize that you are experiencing something totally new and foreign. Realize that adjusting to this new environment will require you to reach outside of your comfort zone and try new things. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. College is a time for discovering yourself and learning new things. If you stay true to your morals while exploring new possibilities, college is will be an incredible experience.

Visit the schools and talk to the students there. When you pick a school and arrive, go to those "lame" meet and greet events offered by your school. Always be yourself and dont procrastinate. It always ends up hurting you

The best advice I could give parents and students about finding the right college would be to look at all aspects of the school and make sure you are comfortable with it. You need to make sure the school is diverse in the ways that will help you grow but also allow you to be yourself. Another good thing to look for would be what office hours do the professors have and what types of help does the school offer for free to help you succeed. For example my school has the writing center, which allows students to take their papers in if they need help coming up with ideas or even proofread. We also have free tutoring services. You have been doing school since you were five. You know what your weak points are the key to success is getting help and managing your time well. Finally the biggest thing I would look at in a school is the activities they have going on. The college you choose is your new home and you need to make sure their are activities that you are interested in so you will be healthy socially, physically, and emotionally.

Get the most out of your college career. Don't let any moment pass you by, get involved and stay involved. Don't worry about grades, I mean make high enough to be able to stay at the institution, but don't freak out not making as well as you did in high school. College is not high school, there is no one out there telling you to get up and go to class, it is your responsibility, no one elses.

As an out of state college student, that is one who went to high school in New York and is currently attending college in Georgia, I feel I did not research my college's ideals enough. To the fresh, flush and cute future freshmen out there, my advice is this: In visiting a college or university, be sure to ask passerbys what college life is like, not just the tour guides. I recently spoke to a "passerby" prospective student who asked me several down-to-earth questions about the college In our conversation, I found her views of campus life to be a sugar coated, surreal, and interestingly idealistic example of what the campus life is actually like. Her views were eeriely not unlike my own when I was just as flush, fresh, and cute. Of course, one's interpretation of one's surroundings is completely subjective, but I feel I did not see enough of my college to get an adequate interpretation; one fitting a decision as big as college. So, my advice to her and to future students was and is: Research past the tour guides before you pick your new way of life.

My advice to any parents or students makign that tough decision about college is to relax. The less stressful the process is, the easier it becomes to find the school that is right for you. Make the search fun by exploring a variety of options and visiting as many campuses as possible and treat it as a new adventure, not a death sentence. The same can be said for making the most of your college experience. College can create a lot of pressure, but as long as one learns to relax, the immense amount of stress becomes a lot more manageable. And remember, college is about more than just preparing yourself for a career; it is about growing as a person and enjoying the last few years where bumming off your parents is okay. Get involved; do extracurriculars and make friends. Studying 24/7 is just as detrimental as not studying at all. Grades are important, but so is your growth as an individual. Its true that college is tough, but it can be fun and rewarding as well.

Visit, visit, visit. You can't judge the "feel" of a school based on websites and applications. As for making the most of a college experience, just get involved! Find one or two extracurriculars that speak to you, and devote yourself to them wholeheartedly.

Visit the campus and talk to the students.

You should visit as many of your potential colleges or universities as possible. This will help you get an idea of the atmosphere of the college and whether you could see yourself there. For example, if you go to a school and it is very crowded, busy and stressful feeling you may not feel like you would belong there. You should also try to identify what is important to you personally about a school and use that to decide whether you want to go there or not. For me, I wanted my school to be reasonably close to home, not as big as a major university, and have values similar to mine. These were the most important criteria (other than quality of education, obviously) and using these as a litmus test helped me to find a college where I feel like I belong.

Students - visit all the colleges you can, even some that you aren't considereing, just so you know what is out there. When you finally pick the school thats right for you - get involved! It's the best way to make friends and balance out your career. Parents - don't pressure your student to go to a school they want to go to . Let them make the decision, because these next4 years will be the foundation for the rest of their lives and they need to know that they made the choice.

I would say visit the college more than one time to make sure it is the right college for you. Also ask about the class sizes to make sure they are the right size for you. Attend any type of programs that allow you to become familiar with the college and try to stay overnight with a student of the school to get a firsthand experience.

For high school students looking for the "right" college to go to, this is my advice: go with the one that feels right- that makes you feel at home. Apply to as many schools as you want, but when it comes to picking "the one," go to the campus, talk to the students & faculty, and ask questions. This is one of the bigger decisions that you'll make in your life, so make it the right one. And don't let money be a major problem (sorry parents:), because there are tons of scholarships out there that are available to you and all colleges have financial aid. Someone once gave me the advice of never letting the issue of money come before your education, because it's probably the best thing that you'll buy. Also, when you do get to college, get involved. College is a TON of fun, both in the classroom & out. This is the time in your life when you make the friends that you have forever. Don't forget to study, because that's important too; but don't hole yourself up in your room every weekend-it won't be fun. :)

Make sure you look at multiple options. Keep location, distance, reputation, atmosphere and finances in mind (in no particular order). Make sure the school you choose is one that both parents and students are happy with. When you find a school that you fit at, make the effort to meet new people and get involved on campus. Lifelong friends, and decisions, are made while attending college.

Finding the "right fit" is crucial when it comes to selecting a college. In order to determine the right fit for a student, it is important to schedule visits to the college campus, interviews with college admissions advisors, and tours of the facilities. Some colleges offer an overnight program; usually a student spends a night or two in the college dorm. This allows the student to get an inside look at college life at a particular college. It would also be beneficial for the student to sit in on some classes in order to get a feel for the quality of academics.

I would suggest visiting the school and talking with students who currently attend there.

Find an area that you would really enjoy being a part of and take advantage of all that is given you.

Your first week at college is a mind blowing experience where you should welcome all your new friends into your life and try new activities. This is your chance to blossom as a human being and find out who you really are, hold nothing back. Always keep an open mind to knew people, their ideas and new activities around you. You dont know what the world holds. When it comes to choosing the right college, you can never thoroughly research too many. It's a big decision that has to fit the student who goes there, noone else. My advice is to decide what you like before you search, but keep an open mind to different opportunities each school has to offer. The best place for you is somewhere you feel comfortable in, push your intelligence and comfort zone, but will help make you to be the very best person you can be. Hold true to what you really want in a college, but remember that even if you have money troubles, you can receive an education anywhere. Its not about the amount you spend, its about the journey to get where you ultimately want to be in life.

As a student, picking the right college for you and your personal needs is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. While you may not be entirely sure what you want to focus on before you apply, you know your passions. Do what you love to do. You will never fail if you follow your heart. Look at each prospective school as if it were applying for a position in your life, as opposed to you applying to the school. Will the school accomodate to your needs for scholastic success? Will you feel comfortable or out of place on the campus? Speak with some of the faculty and attending students to get a real life perspective of each college you look at. Ask questions and make connections. These are key in making your college experience a great one. Lastly, remember that while everything in life may not revolve around you, your education DOES. Because of this, you shouldn't feel nervous or insecure, you should feel empowered. Go at it head on and make your education count. Your success lies in your own hands like wet clay. Mold it into a masterpiece.

First identify what kind of personalty you have and base your decision on that. While in school make connections with professors. These relationships are extreamly helpful both during school and after.

Don't be afraid to leave a college if you find you are miserable. Don't give up after two days, but if you don't fit in it is not a crime to leave.

In choosing a college or university, look for a school that fits what you want. I know that sounds simple, but it's the best advice I can give. Know what you want--large or small, liberal or conservative, state-owned or private. Make sure you visit at least your top three choices and talk to students from those schools. In the end, choose a school that you could see yourself graduating from in four years. To make the most out of college, commit to your school Get involved with at least a few different organizations. Make sure you have a balance between school, friends and work. or extra-curricular activities. Don't go home for at least the first month--or even the first two months. If you at all have the chance, study abroad. Also, find an internship in your field for either a summer or as part of one of your semesters. Be open-minded and don't be afraid to try new things, but also know what you believe. Most of all, allow yourself to grow and embrace the changes as they come.

I would tell them first and foremost to find a place that FEELS right for them. I started out my search up north at extremely large univeristies, and I ended up at Berry College- in the middle of no where with a student body of only 2,000. Why? Because the moment I set foot on this campus, I just knew that this was the place for me. I would also tell them to narrow their search by thinking about the size of campus that they're looking for, location from home, cost, and any other personal preferences that could make or break the college experience for that student. Once their search is narrowed- start the trip to visit every college on the list. No college looks the way it does online, so seeing it in person is key! As for the college experience, I would tell the student that this is a fresh start and a clean slate, so just be yourself and meet as many people as possible- you can't go wrong! Meeting people is the key ingredient to having an amazing college experience!

pick a place that you can see yourself making friends... responsible friends that you can rely on.

FIrst off, make sure to explore all of the choices available for schooling. Pick the school that feels right to you and where you feel most comfortable, no matter what. If there are issues, such as price, if it is the right school for you, everything will work out. If you go to a small school, live on campus all four years. In small schools, you can miss out on a lot by living off campus. Don't go home every weekend. You won't make as many friends, and you will miss out on once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Never say never. Try something new everyday. College only happens once and the four years just fly by. Study, but don't live in the library. Stay in touch with your friends from high school, but don't be upset if you don't talk every single week. College is a time for new experiences and new friends. Last, but not least, have fun!

When I was first looking at colleges, I couldn't decide between an all-girl school (Agnes Scott) or a small co-ed school (Berry College). I had my heart sent on Agnes Scott from the moment I first hear about it...but when I found out about Berry College, my previous certainty was thrown out the window. I ultimately decided on Berry College and I have never had any reason to regret my choice. No one can make your decision for you; you have to follow your heart. Would I have been happy at Agnes Scott? Almost certainly. It's a lovely small school, great for networking and creating lasting friendships with other women. Yet Berry is where I ended up. I can't exactly say why, other than it just "felt right." Once you find that perfect college, do your best to make the most of it. Study hard; it helps! Make friends with the professors, staff, and, of course, other students. Join clubs, participate in community service, find a job on-campus. Do whatever it takes to feel connected to your school. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Make sure that it fits you and your lifestyle!

Sometimes you're teens will want to go to a big university, because that is how they perceive the college experience, big dorms, football games, they don't focus as much on the type of people they'll be surrounded by, the kind of education they will get. Try to help them pick a school that suits them and where they are in their life at that point. Let them go to a school where there natural talents and aspirations will be groomed and flourish, because they will learn more about themselves in their own self-discovery through extra-curriculars than they ever can in the classroom. It is their leadership roles in those activities and how they handle themselves outside of the classroom that shape their character, so make sure they are in a place that will put them on a positive path. My parents forced me to go to a small school, and I was completely against it, and now I couldnt thank them enough for doing it. I had the best time in college, and don't look back on any times with regret about my actions or my friends!

Find a college that makes you feel at home.

The best way to know if a school is right for you is to visit the campus multiple times. You will get a better idea of the campus life, the students, and whether you will enjoy being at that school.

Consider who you are at the time of applying, and then consider the many different directions you might evolve. Take a look at how each school you are considering would shape you into the budding adult you will become and, finally, decide which of the alternate You's are the most appealing then apply to the corresponding schools. There is no avoiding the fact that you will change in college, but you can make an educated decision as to the type of change you will endure based on the school you attend. Alternately, some schools are perfect for individuals at the time s/he starts his/her college career, but in the end the school may no longer fit the new, more developed needs of the individual. This is the point at which one knows that s/he is ready for the world!

I would just say to thoroughly explore what it is you would like in your school- the type of people that the institution draws, the size, the kinds of activities that are available, etc. -- and then seek out an institution that can provide those things. Definitely do the homework!